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The Meaning of the Edelweiss Flower

By Shanna Avery ; Updated September 29, 2017

The edelweiss that grows in the Alps holds cultural importance in that region.

The edelweiss flower, or Leontopodium alpinum, is a cherished symbol in Austria and Switzerland, where it has long been prominent in folklore and popular sentiment. Edelweiss means "noble-white" in German. This wildflower is in the daisy family and grows high in the Alps.

Cultural Significance of the Edelweiss

During the 19th century, the edelweiss became identified with the purity of the Alps and the patriotic sentiment in this region. The edelweiss also became symbolic of deep love and devotion because young men risked climbing the mountains to pick edelweiss for their brides, and their daring feat was sometimes fatal. The edelweiss also represents freedom. German youth in the Rhineland and southwest Germany were involved in a resistance movement known as the Edelweiss that opposed the state youth system of Germany during the Nazi regime. In the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music, the show tune "Edelweiss" depicts loyalty to Austria. More recently, the edelweiss has been used as a symbol on the uniforms of the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group Airborne Soldiers. Mountain forces in the German army also wear the edelweiss symbol on the left sides of their caps, and the Austrian army sports it on the back of their caps.

About the Author

Shanna Avery has been informing the Northern Michigan region about its rich history in a weekly column featured in the "Weekly Voice" since 2013. Her articles have also been featured in other Michigan newspapers such as the "Cadillac News" and the "Lake County Star."